Death On The Nile is undoubtedly one of Agatha Christies most loved novels and it was the first of the author's films I came across. The 1978 version saw Peter Ustinov star as the fictional, Belgium investigator Hercule Poirot and his travelling companion Colonel Race who was played by David Niven.
As the title suggests, the movie is set on the River Nile in Egypt. When a young heiress is murdered, Poirot is called upon to solve the crime. The motion picture is set aboard the Nile River boat the SS Cataract with visits at a number of Egypt's most widely known historical attractions.
After Linnet Doyle (nee Ridgeway) is killed it soon becomes obvious that there is more than one individual with a likely motive for murder. Linnet Doyle was on honeymoon in Egypt with her new husband Simon. The couple were being shadowed by Jacqueline, Simon's former girl friend. She follows the husband and wife from the Pyramids in Cairo down to the Nile and boards the SS Cataract.
Linnet Doyle was the initial murder victim and as Poirot started to examine, the various other suspects motives started to be discovered. Her precious pendant was coveted by Mrs van Schuyler, Salome Otterbourne faced a law suit from Doyle over a piece she had put into writing, Doyle had declined her maid the dowry she had promised and there were others too.
As the boat cruised along the river stopping at spots like the Temple of Karnak, Aswan and the Temple of Abu Simbel, other passengers were also being slain. Finally Poirot works out the clues and the murderers are unmasked. Simon Doyle had married Linnet to get easy access to her wealth. With her out of the way, Simon would be available to marry his true love, Jacqueline.
The fatalities don't stop here as in desperation, Jacqueline first shoots Simon then herself rather than face the law. Initially published in the 1930s, the novel is a Christie classic. Despite the fact that many of the trips are improbable (such as cruising from Karnak to Abu Simbel in an afternoon), this doesn't detract from the film in anyway. Luckily, modern travellers don't experience quite so much drama on their Nile Cruise holidays.
As the title suggests, the movie is set on the River Nile in Egypt. When a young heiress is murdered, Poirot is called upon to solve the crime. The motion picture is set aboard the Nile River boat the SS Cataract with visits at a number of Egypt's most widely known historical attractions.
After Linnet Doyle (nee Ridgeway) is killed it soon becomes obvious that there is more than one individual with a likely motive for murder. Linnet Doyle was on honeymoon in Egypt with her new husband Simon. The couple were being shadowed by Jacqueline, Simon's former girl friend. She follows the husband and wife from the Pyramids in Cairo down to the Nile and boards the SS Cataract.
Linnet Doyle was the initial murder victim and as Poirot started to examine, the various other suspects motives started to be discovered. Her precious pendant was coveted by Mrs van Schuyler, Salome Otterbourne faced a law suit from Doyle over a piece she had put into writing, Doyle had declined her maid the dowry she had promised and there were others too.
As the boat cruised along the river stopping at spots like the Temple of Karnak, Aswan and the Temple of Abu Simbel, other passengers were also being slain. Finally Poirot works out the clues and the murderers are unmasked. Simon Doyle had married Linnet to get easy access to her wealth. With her out of the way, Simon would be available to marry his true love, Jacqueline.
The fatalities don't stop here as in desperation, Jacqueline first shoots Simon then herself rather than face the law. Initially published in the 1930s, the novel is a Christie classic. Despite the fact that many of the trips are improbable (such as cruising from Karnak to Abu Simbel in an afternoon), this doesn't detract from the film in anyway. Luckily, modern travellers don't experience quite so much drama on their Nile Cruise holidays.
About the Author:
Nile Cruise holidays are very popular with holidaymakers and are thankfully not as eventful as in Agatha Christie's film.
